JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 14, 2011) - The ETSU baseball team begins the 2011 season Friday, Feb. 18 as the Marist Red Foxes come to town. Every day, leading up to the first pitch, different members of the 2011 squad will check in with Buccaneer fans. Today senior Bo Burton is stopping by to check in with the fans.

The last couple weeks of practice for us have been very productive. Whether we are outside or working in the dome we have been able to get some good work in every day. I feel like we are continuing to get stronger in the weight room. We also have been able go outside and work on game situations and also compete in intersquads. Our intersquads have been exciting the last couple weekends. We have been fortunate enough to get out on the field and get after it. I feel like our team is coming to the park every day with energy and I can tell all of us are eager to play come Friday.

To me it seems like just the other day we were all together for the first time in the fall, and now that opening day is so close we are all very excited. I know all of us are getting tired of playing one another, and all of us want to come together to compete against Marist. Another great thing for us is that we get to open up in our ballpark. Cardinal Park has a new look to it, and its going to be nice to be able to start out this season here at home. I am also excited to be on the bump for us Saturday. It has been a while since I have been out on the mound competing against another team with my teammates. I know we will come and play with a lot of passion and energy this weekend.

We are pretty fortunate as a team to have a bunch of players back from last year that are experienced, and also have some new guys that can come in and contribute. I feel like our team has been able to work hard and push each other in the weight room and on the field. I wouldn't want to take the field and compete with any other group of guys. Off the field, we are pretty tight as well. Whether it is going out to eat together, just hanging out, or Kangaroo Court in the clubhouse, we all have a great time together.

I can't wait to start this season with this team. Last year we were able to have some success, but fell short of our goal which is an Atlantic Sun Championship. This year we are back and we are hungry to go out there and compete for one another. I hope our fans are able to make it to Cardinal this weekend and check us out.

Go Bucs!

#4 Bo Burton

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